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The U.S. Air Force is blocking its personnel from using work computers to view the websites of the New York Times and other major publications that have posted classified diplomatic cables, people familiar with the matter said.

Air Force users who try to view the websites of the New York Times, Britain's Guardian, Spain's El Pais, France's Le Monde or German magazine Der Spiegel instead get a page that says, "ACCESS DENIED. Internet Usage is Logged & Monitored," according to a screen shot reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The notice warns that anyone who accesses unauthorized sites from military computers could be punished.

The Air Force said it had blocked more than 25 websites that contained the documents, originally obtained by the website WikiLeaks and published starting late last month, in order to keep classified material off unclassified computer systems.

Major Toni Tones, a spokeswoman for Air Force Space Command, wouldn't name the websites but said they might include media sites. Removing such material after it ends up on a computer could require "unnecessary time and resources," Major Tones said.
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"It is unfortunate that the U.S. Air Force has chosen not to allow its personnel access to the most important news, analysis and commentary," a New York Times spokeswoman said.

The other publications couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

The move was ordered by the 24th Air Force, which is responsible for maintaining Air Force computer networks. The Army, Navy and Marines aren't blocking the sites, and the Defense Department hasn't told the services to do so, according to spokespeople for the services and the Pentagon.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense has issued guidance against visiting WikiLeaks or downloading documents posted there, according to defense officials. The Air Force told its own personnel in August to avoid those actions. Service commanders have authority to go beyond Pentagon guidance and issue orders to protect classified information.

The Army has done the same thing, but more extensively. Basically, whenever the keyword "Wikileaks" appears in the embedded links in an article, the system blocks it.

BTW, everyone needs to be aware that although the leaks are available, the data has not been declassified and any US government personnel who access it, even on their personal computers, are in violation of policy, not to mention risking a full on wipe of their systems by the local DOIM.

The Army has done the same thing, but more extensively. Basically, whenever the keyword "Wikileaks" appears in the embedded links in an article, the system blocks it.

BTW, everyone needs to be aware that although the leaks are available, the data has not been declassified and any US government personnel who access it, even on their personal computers, are in violation of policy, not to mention risking a full on wipe of their systems by the local DOIM.

You have become the Sovereign Property of the U.S.Government's Department of Defense !

BTW, everyone needs to be aware that although the leaks are available, the data has not been declassified and any US government personnel who access it, even on their personal computers, are in violation of policy, not to mention risking a full on wipe of their systems by the local DOIM.